On Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, Central Bucks East senior Elise Waddington & Elizabeth Gray were recognized for committing to compete in softball at the collegiate level.
Elizabeth Gray – Villanova University (Softball)
Major: Biochemistry/Pre-med
Final list of colleges: Villanova, University of Pennsylvania
Reasons for choosing Villanova: “I just always wanted to go to Villanova. Ever since I was in fifth grade, I was like – I want to play softball at Villanova, and that’s why I worked so hard with academics and athletics. It was kind of like a dream come true.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in softball at the collegiate level? “I played with a travel team starting in second or third grade. The recruiting rule changed from any age to junior year when I was in eighth grade, but by that time, people were already committing in seventh and eighth grade. We’ve been going to showcases since fifth grade. I committed junior year in October.”
Coach Karl Knapp says: “Elizabeth is a four-year letterwinner and one of the best athletes I’ve ever covered at East in softball. She is our back-to-back batting champion, and if she wins the batting championship this year, she will be the first three-time batting champion since I’ve been coaching varsity in 2016. Unfortunately, she lost the opportunity in the COVID year, or she could have possibly been a four-time batting. She leads the team in stolen bases, and she’s a real leader, one of the real go-getters on the team. She’s running our weightlifting program right now, and she’s invaluable as far as the drive, the excellence and the leadership she brings to the team. All the players look up to her, and we’re really going to miss her when she graduates – she’ll be hard to replace. She’s an all-state centerfielder and probably the best centerfielder in our league.”
About Elizabeth:
Favorite food: Sushi
Favorite movie: Mulan
Favorite artist: Queen
Elise Waddington – Ithaca College (Softball)
Major: International Business with a minor in chemistry
Final list of colleges: Ithaca, Fairfield, Robert Morris
Reasons for choosing Ithaca: “The community they have built. It’s gorgeous up there in the area, and the softball team is like a family, so that really drew me – just the connections and the community.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in softball at the collegiate level? “I have always had it in me, but really, my sophomore year is when I really started to hammer it in just because after my senior year I couldn’t imagine my life without softball, so I started to work really hard, and I achieved it.”
Coach Karl Knapp says: “Elise started out as one of our best pitchers and also played shortstop. For three years, she been in our top three as a hitter, and again, she’s another leader who’s helping out with the weightlifting program. She’s an all-around contributor with a great personality. She’s a wonderful and easy person to work with and has contributed immensely to the team in batting. She’s been in our three and four spots because of her hitting ability, the power she has and the consistency. Again, she somebody we’re really going to miss when she graduates. It’s going to be a hard role to fill. Both of these girls have been outstanding contributors to the program, and both will be really hard to replace.”
About Elise:
Favorite food: Anything Italian
Favorite TV show: Criminal Minds
Favorite music: Pop
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